Family Feud

It’s true that we don’t choose our families, and often they are people we wouldn’t necessarily want to be friends with and/or have little in common with, but we’re generally stuck with them anyway (unless we cut off contact, which is extreme, but sometimes the only possible way forward).

There are good things about my relatives, but there have been a number of stressful family situations over the years, and although I love them, I can’t say it is easy or relaxing to spend time with them. So while I’m looking forward to seeing them next month, I am also beginning to feel a sense of unease about it. I wish family members could accept us for who we are, even if we are different than they would have liked. In general, if we all just took people for who they are, rather than being disappointed that they are different than we had planned or hoped for, we would have fewer feuds and fewer stressful and upsetting family visits.

--Curly

Priceless

Prices keep going up, but I am getting no salary increase this year to match the higher cost of living. This has to do with where I work and how it is funded, but nevertheless, it is annoying to see how I retain less and less of what I work very hard to earn.

--Curly

Unfayre

There are two things I dislike about summer fairs. First of all, they are often spelled “fayre,” which is supposed to convey a sense of old-fashioned, innocent, good-old-days fun. Second, you are then expected to have fun there, and it ends up feeling forced and stressful. Unfayre and not fun!

--Curly

Hairy and Scary

Why is there the assumption that women must shave their legs and armpits and bikini areas? Why do people tend to find it so offensive if a woman dares to wear shorts or a skirt and has hairy legs? Is it so threatening to our natural order?

It’s such a waste of time to shave, and of course the various bits of paraphernalia we need or the services we pay for when shaving or waxing or getting electrolysis or whatever else can get quite expensive. And when the hair is growing back, it feels rough and can be scratchy or itchy.

Personally, I have better things to do with my time. I still feel a bit uncomfortable when wearing a skirt, even if I’m also wearing tights or pantyhose over my legs, but I know that’s just due to my socialization, and I am trying to overcome it. But I don’t appreciate friends or relatives or lovers making negative comments about my body hair; it just doesn’t seem to be any of their business, and it can also be rather sad to hear how everyone in our society has bought into the idea of a hair-free woman being the ideal.

--Curly

Independence Day

In the spirit of Independence Day in the U.S., I’m thinking of things in my life I wish I could (or wish I had the energy/strength/courage to) divest myself of. I feel weighed down by objects, for example. I don’t like owning tchotchkes and though I appreciate when people give me presents, I also tend to think that now I’ll have yet another thing to dust and to move around on my peripatetic lifestyle.

Also, I seem to have collected a lot of acquaintances. I guess that’s what happens over a life, but there are so many people who demand a lot of me (or at least demand much more than they give), and that’s so draining. I try to be a good friend and to listen to others and to support them when they need me, but I don’t always feel I get that in return.

Sometimes I think I’d to get rid of some of the excess stuff and the excess people in my life.

--Curly